VICTORIAN METEORITES, WITH NOTES ON OBSLDIANITES. 
liquid was coloured an intense preen . It was, therefore, evident 
that the mineral under examination, although apparently so similar, 
was not daubreelite. Some of the carbonaceous-looking grains 
obtained by treatment of a piece of the nodule with hydrochloric 
acid behaved in a like manner, decomposing in hot nitric acid with 
the separation of sulphur and leaving a residue of graphite. They, 
however, gave a faint bluish -green colour to the borax bead when 
cold. In order to make sure that all the troilite was removed, a 
part of the granular material was powdered and again treated with 
hydrochloric acid. The tests were then repeated with similar results. 
Heated in the closed tube the powder gave a sublimate of sulphur, 
and in the open tube sulphurous fumes were rapidly evolved. The 
concentrated nitric acid solution was slightly coloured like the borax 
bead. These facts seem to point to the grains being the same mineral 
as the flakes, but containing in addition a little cobalt, probably as 
an accessory. It is also likely that the substance is identical with 
the unknown cobalt compound mentioned by Smith (48. 50), as 
occurring in association with sulphur and a hydrocarbon in the Cran- 
bourne No. 1. Should such be the case the cobalt must be very 
variable and non-essential. Later tests on a larger quantity of 
what is undoubtedly the same substance from the Langwarrin 
meteorite, showed that its composition was essentially a sulphide 
of nickel and iron with some cobalt. The probability of the mineral 
in question containing sulphur and a hydrocarbon made it advisable 
to follow Smith’s procedure to ascertain if his results could be 
repeated. For this purpose an investigation was undertaken 
in conjunction with Bayly. The quantity of substance available 
however, from the Cranbourne No. 2 was insufficient, and most 
of the work had to be done on the material obtained from the Lang- 
warrin. The results of the investigation are set out fully in the 
description of the latter meteorite. It will suffice to say here that 
the results were practically the same as Smith’s, which indicated the 
presence of two substances, namely, an uncertain hydrocarbon 
and free sulphur. 
Silicious Residue. — Certain residual grains were obtained after 
complete solution of the metallic constituents in hydrochloric 
and nitric acids, but, as the material used was mostly derived from 
the outside oxidized part of the meteorite, which quite probably 
contained foreign inclusions, picked up from the contiguous ground 
into which the meteorite had fallen, much doubt must be attached 
to their presence. Their occurrence is of interest, however, as they 
included grains resembling some of those noted by Cohen in his 
examination of the Beaeonsfield meteorite. Of these, Cohen says the 
majority were dull white, and could be compared to a silicate, in this 
case probably olivine, decomposed by hydrochloric acid. Besides 
these, there were colourless, transparent angular particles of quartz. 
[ 30 ] 
